Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-17
AN APPLE TREE.

jacques was not a bad fellow, only little
hasty and resisting his first impulses with
difficulty. A law student, working very dill.
igently and imbued with Schopenhauer's
philosophy, his life was hard one. In need
of money, he gave lessons; in brief he ate of
that cow that no incubation had been able
to preserve from madness. ITO "eat of
mad cow in French means to endure hard
sbip.] Still he was not at heart a bad fell
low. But his burden had begun to feel very
heavy and now and then there were revolts
which might, on occasion, as one could see,
lead him little too far One Saturday in
che summer, with stomach and purse both
empty, Tuning over a little excursion pro-
jected for the morrow in which he could
take no part because he had no money, he
set out to walk about Paris, and keeping on
a straight road, passed through the fau-
bourgs, and finally, at s o'clock in the
evening, found himself on the plain of Au-
bervilliers. on long and barren highway.
Then, as bad luck would have it, rain began
to fall in big drops, and at about the Same
moment the thunder runlbled Jacques
was not easily frightened; he had no pre-
JUDGES, and he cared little for thunder
bolts, but considerably for the rain, which
leaked through his neutrality-suspicious. in
an economic sense-and for his skin,
which was feeble defense against pneumo-
Mia. No protection anywhere; to right and
left the plain, broad an. naked. At last, by
good luck, tree-the Only-an apple tree,
bending over slightly, a good devil of an
apple tree, which resembled a tipsy fellow,
with his hat pitched over his ear. Jacques
made little salute to the tree and sheltered
himself under its branches The storm in
creased in fury. Evidently, however, Jacques,
who was not bad fellow, was conscious that
be was exasperated against fate These things
only happened to him. Nature, even, was
maliciously disposed toward him. He shook
his fist at the shadows which the rain striped
with steel lines, as you have seen on the
stage.
B-r-r-ri What Internal weather! and an
other man came, scolding, to fasten himself
to the trunk of the apple tree, with his back
turned to Jacques, who had not seen him
The newcomer had been feasting. tHe seemed
TO be a horse dealer who had Just concluded
business matter, as he growled between his
teeth:
This is very amusing; yes, indeed And
those beats who made me drink and have
taken my carriage and left me to walk home
in weather like this and with all this money
about met"
Jacques was not bad fellow. It is neces-
sary to say SO once more, because from this
point one might entertain some doubts as to
his character. Hearing the iabber of his I'M
known neighbor and convinced that, even
on polite demand, he could obtain no loan
from him 1acu,1nS +na
tree, seized the man by the throat and, being
very strong strangled him. This preliminary
accomplished, he took the mans purse.
emptied it into his own pocket, threw it
down on the ground near the body of its
former owner and, as it was growing late,
set off in the direction of the city
The tree, which had not moved during this
incident, set out to follow Jacques
1t is not a common custom for a tree TO
follow man who has just strangled another
man: SO it would be unjust TO accuse Jacques
of weakness under the pretext that he was a
little surprised. Hearing behind him on the
road the sliding of the roots, he turned
around and saw the tree.
Good, said he, lit must be that my mind
is upset, not being used to these deeds, doubt
less"
He set off again and the tree continued to
follow him
Either ! am fool" reflected Jacques.
cor what is seen here is a manifestation that
is still inexplicable on natural grounds |
shall know all about it pretty soon, because
1t is not to be believed that the customs Off
GERS, who are calm minded men, viii let q
tree pass without at least venturing a re-
mark
At the barrier the employees were not dis
composed. The apple tree did not seem to
have any of their care, and Jacques and the
tree found themselves in single file in the
streets of Paris. jacques then began to think
it over, and said to himself:
$50, then, it is clearly proved that this
apple tree is a visible form of remorse, like
Baneuo appearing TO Macbeth, or the com
mander to Don Juan This case Of hallucina-
ticn is all the more absurd because l expert
ence no rernosse. This apple tree, it seems to
me, miSunderstands all the traditions Never
mind. ] have some money now. | shall pass
a comfortable night, and the tree, tomorrow
morning, will be back in its place. You
have missed fire, my good fellow
He had, You see, placid mind, and knew
how to adapt himself TO circumstances He
fastened his pace, not to escape from the ap-
pie tree, which appeared to have an indefat-
igable root, but in order TO get to bed the
sooner after having counted, TO his SatiSfac-
ton, the money which he was sitting through
his fingers in his Ipcket. He reached his
house. Rue de Seine. Before the door, he
asked himself if the apple tree would go In
with him, and he had something like feel
ing of interest for the tree, thinking of the
narrowness of the Railways, in which the tree
would certainly bruiSe its branches He rang,
the door opened and closed behind him. The
apple tree remained outside. Jacques smiled.
Reaching his room he discovered, by the light
of candle, that what with gold pieces and
crowns the operation had Welded him 500
and some odd francs. lie was not left in the
1urch that time. Suddenly he reproached
himself for not having thought of his apple
tree, which, in fact, had played its part of an
avenger very discreetly, and raising the cur
tain, he looked through the window The APP
pie tree was on the sidewalk, walking up and
down very calmly. Jacques even noticed
that it turned aside politely to let pass two
sergents de Vile
Jacques went to bed and slept until morn
ing
Toward o'clock be awole. Somebody
was pounding on the door. He sat up, his
ewes still full OF sleepineSS. "Hollo therem
They were his friends, who were seeking him
for the excursion, for which he-had been able
to procure some resources. In the best Of
spirits he opened the door, aud lively dis
cussion was raised while he dressed himself
He slipped few louis in his pocket and went
down stairs in the best Of health. The apple
tree, which respectfully awaited him on the
sidewalk. began at once 10 follow him, like L
lackey of a well managed household. jacques,
who had no n.,aiudiceS. threw il a little smile